Method and system for mobile receiver antenna architecture for world band cellular and broadcasting services

ABSTRACT

A method for an antenna architecture that handles World band cellular and broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprise receiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a first antenna, where the first signals comprise signals within at least one of a 2100 MHz band and a 1900 MHz band. The method may further comprise receiving at a second RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, second signals via the first antenna, where the second signals comprise signals within at least one of a 1900 MHz band, a 1800 MHz band, a 900 MHz band and a 850 MHz band. Additionally, third signals may be received via the first antenna at a third RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, where the third signals comprise signals within a VHF/UHF broadcast band.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference to:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,991, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,847, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,461, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,877, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,914, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/001,486, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,903, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/011,009, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,855, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,743, filed Dec. 13, 2004;

Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to mobile receivers. Morespecifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a methodand system for a mobile receiver antenna architecture for world bandcellular services and broadcasting services.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Broadcasting and telecommunications have historically occupied separatefields. In the past, broadcasting was largely an “over-the-air” mediumwhile wired media carried telecommunications. That distinction may nolonger apply as both broadcasting and telecommunications may bedelivered over either wired or wireless media. Present development mayadapt broadcasting to mobility services. One limitation has been thatbroadcasting may often require high bit rate data transmission at rateshigher than could be supported by existing mobile communicationsnetworks. However, with emerging developments in wireless communicationstechnology, even this obstacle may be overcome.

Terrestrial television and radio broadcast networks have made use ofhigh power transmitters covering broad service areas, which enableone-way distribution of content to user equipment such as televisionsand radios. By contrast, wireless telecommunications networks have madeuse of low power transmitters, which have covered relatively small areasknown as “cells”. Unlike broadcast networks, wireless networks may beadapted to provide two-way interactive services between users of userequipment such as telephones and computer equipment.

The introduction of cellular communications systems in the late 1970'sand early 1980's represented a significant advance in mobilecommunications. The networks of this period may be commonly known asfirst generation, or “1G” systems. These systems were based upon analog,circuit-switching technology, the most prominent of these systems mayhave been the advanced mobile phone system (AMPS). Second generation, or“2G” systems ushered improvements in performance over 1G systems andintroduced digital technology to mobile communications. Exemplary 2Gsystems include the global system for mobile communications (GSM),digital AMPS (D-AMPS), and code division multiple access (CDMA). Many ofthese systems have been designed according to the paradigm of thetraditional telephony architecture, often focused on circuit-switchedservices, voice traffic, and supported data transfer rates up to 14.4kbits/s. Higher data rates were achieved through the deployment of“2.5G” networks, many of which were adapted to existing 2G networkinfrastructures. The 2.5G networks began the introduction ofpacket-switching technology in wireless networks. However, it is theevolution of third generation, or “3G” technology that may introducefully packet-switched networks, which support high-speed datacommunications.

The general packet radio service (GPRS), which is an example of a 2.5Gnetwork service oriented for data communications, comprises enhancementsto GSM that required additional hardware and software elements inexisting GSM network infrastructures. Where GSM may allot a single timeslot in a time division multiple access (TDMA) frame, GPRS may allot upto 8 such time slots providing a data transfer rate of up to 115.2kbits/s. Another 2.5G network, enhanced data rates for GSM evolution(EDGE), also comprises enhancements to GSM, and like GPRS, EDGE mayallocate up to 8 time slots in a TDMA frame for packet-switched, orpacket mode, transfers. However, unlike GPRS, EDGE adapts 8 phase shiftkeying (8-PSK) modulation to achieve data transfer rates that may be ashigh as 384 kbits/s.

The universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) is an adaptationof a 3G system, which is designed to offer integrated voice, multimedia,and Internet access services to portable user equipment. The UMTS adaptswideband CDMA (W-CDMA) to support data transfer rates, which may be ashigh as 2 Mbits/s. One reason why W-CDMA may support higher data ratesis that W-CDMA channels may have a bandwidth of 5 MHz versus the 200 kHzchannel bandwidth in GSM. A related 3G technology, high speed downlinkpacket access (HSDPA), is an Internet protocol (IP) based serviceoriented for data communications, which adapts W-CDMA to support datatransfer rates of the order of 10 Mbits/s. HSDPA achieves higher datarates through a plurality of methods. For example, many transmissiondecisions may be made at the base station level, which is much closer tothe user equipment as opposed to being made at a mobile switching centeror office. These may include decisions about the scheduling of data tobe transmitted, when data are to be retransmitted, and assessments aboutthe quality of the transmission channel. HSDPA may also utilize variablecoding rates in transmitted data. HSDPA also supports 16-levelquadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) over a high-speed downlinkshared channel (HS-DSCH), which permits a plurality of users to share anair interface channel.

The multiple broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) is an IP datacastservice, which may be deployed in EDGE and UMTS networks. The impact ofMBMS is largely within the network in which a network element adapted toMBMS, the broadcast multicast service center (BM-SC), interacts withother network elements within a GSM or UMTS system to manage thedistribution of content among cells within a network. User equipment maybe required to support functions for the activation and deactivation ofMBMS bearer service. MBMS may be adapted for delivery of video and audioinformation over wireless networks to user equipment. MBMS may beintegrated with other services offered over the wireless network torealize multimedia services, such as multicasting, which may requiretwo-way interaction with user equipment.

Standards for digital television terrestrial broadcasting (DTTB) haveevolved around the world with different systems being adopted indifferent regions. The three leading DTTB systems are, the advancedstandards technical committee (ATSC) system, the digital video broadcastterrestrial (DVB-T) system, and the integrated service digitalbroadcasting terrestrial (ISDB-T) system. The ATSC system has largelybeen adopted in North America, South America, Taiwan, and South Korea.This system adapts trellis coding and 8-level vestigial sideband (8-VSB)modulation. The DVB-T system has largely been adopted in Europe, theMiddle East, Australia, as well as parts of Africa and parts of Asia.The DVB-T system adapts coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(COFDM). The ISDB-T system has been adopted in Japan and adaptsbandwidth segmented transmission orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (BST-OFDM). The various DTTB systems may differ inimportant aspects; some systems employ a 6 MHz channel separation, whileothers may employ 7 MHz or 8 MHz channel separations. Planning for theallocation of frequency spectrum may also vary among countries with somecountries integrating frequency allocation for DTTB services into theexisting allocation plan for legacy analog broadcasting systems. In suchinstances, broadcast towers for DTTB may be co-located with broadcasttowers for analog broadcasting services with both services beingallocated similar geographic broadcast coverage areas. In othercountries, frequency allocation planning may involve the deployment ofsingle frequency networks (SFNs), in which a plurality of towers,possibly with overlapping geographic broadcast coverage areas (alsoknown as “gap fillers”), may simultaneously broadcast identical digitalsignals. SFNs may provide very efficient use of broadcast spectrum as asingle frequency may be used to broadcast over a large coverage area incontrast to some of the conventional systems, which may be used foranalog broadcasting, in which gap fillers transmit at differentfrequencies to avoid interference.

Even among countries adopting a common DTTB system, variations may existin parameters adapted in a specific national implementation. Forexample, DVB-T not only supports a plurality of modulation schemes,comprising quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), 16-QAM, and 64 levelQAM (64-QAM), but DVB-T offers a plurality of choices for the number ofmodulation carriers to be used in the COFDM scheme. The “2K” modepermits 1,705 carrier frequencies that may carry symbols, each with auseful duration of 224 μs for an 8 MHz channel. In the “8K” mode thereare 6,817 carrier frequencies, each with a useful symbol duration of 896μs for an 8 MHz channel. In SFN implementations, the 2K mode may providecomparatively higher data rates but smaller geographical coverage areasthan may be the case with the 8K mode. Different countries adopting thesame system may also employ different channel separation schemes.

While 3G systems are evolving to provide integrated voice, multimedia,and data services to mobile user equipment, there may be compellingreasons for adapting DTTB systems for this purpose. One of the morenotable reasons may be the high data rates that may be supported in DTTBsystems. For example, DVB-T may support data rates of 15 Mbits/s in an 8MHz channel in a wide area SFN. There are also significant challenges indeploying broadcast services to mobile user equipment. Many handheldportable devices, for example, may require that services consume minimumpower to extend battery life to a level, which may be acceptable tousers. Another consideration is the Doppler effect in moving userequipment, which may cause inter-symbol interference in receivedsignals. Among the three major DTTB systems, ISDB-T was originallydesigned to support broadcast services to mobile user equipment. WhileDVB-T may not have been originally designed to support mobilitybroadcast services, a number of adaptations have been made to providesupport for mobile broadcast capability. The adaptation of DVB-T tomobile broadcasting is commonly known as DVB handheld (DVB-H).

To meet requirements for mobile broadcasting the DVB-H specification maysupport time slicing to reduce power consumption at the user equipment,addition of a 4K mode to enable network operators to make tradeoffsbetween the advantages of the 2K mode and those of the 8K mode, and anadditional level of forward error correction on multiprotocolencapsulated data—forward error correction (MPE-FEC) to make DVB-Htransmissions more robust to the challenges presented by mobilereception of signals and to potential limitations in antenna designs forhandheld user equipment. DVB-H may also use the DVB-T modulationschemes, like QPSK and 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM),which may be most resilient to transmission errors. MPEG audio and videoservices may be more resilient to error than data, thus additionalforward error correction may not be required to meet DTTB serviceobjectives.

Time slicing may reduce power consumption in user equipment byincreasing the burstiness of data transmission. Instead of transmittingdata at the received rate, under time slicing techniques, thetransmitter may delay the sending of data to user equipment and senddata later but at a higher bit rate. This may reduce total datatransmission time over the air, time, which may be used to temporarilypower down the receiver at the user equipment. Time slicing may alsofacilitate service handovers as user equipment moves from one cell toanother because the delay time imposed by time slicing may be used tomonitor transmitters in neighboring cells. The MPE-FEC may compriseReed-Solomon coding of IP data packets, or packets using other dataprotocols. The 4K mode in DVB-H may utilize 3,409 carriers, each with auseful duration of 448 μs for an 8 MHz channel. The 4K mode may enablenetwork operators to realize greater flexibility in network design atminimum additional cost. Importantly, DVB-T and DVB-H may coexist in thesame geographical area. Transmission parameter signaling (TPS) bits thatare carried in the header of transmitted messages may indicate whether agiven DVB transmission is DVB-T or DVB-H, in addition to indicatingwhether DVB-H specific features, such as time slicing, or MPE-FEC are tobe performed at the receiver. As time slicing may be a mandatory featureof DVB-H, an indication of time slicing in the TPS may indicate that thereceived information is from a DVB-H service.

W-CDMA is one of the third-generation radio interface technologies thathas been optimized for wide-band radio access, to support high-speedmultimedia services such as video conferencing and the Internet, as wellas voice calls. W-CDMA may allow the wireless bandwidth to be tailoredto the needs of each individual call, whether it is in a voice, data ormultimedia format and it may be able to handle both packet andcircuit-switched services. The broadcast channel may comprise severallogical channels that may be multiplexed onto one communications channelthat is continuously broadcast from a cell site and provides the mobileterminal with system information, lists of neighboring radio channelsand other system configuration information.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for an antenna architecture that handles World band cellularand broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprisereceiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a first antenna,where the first signals comprise signals within at least one of a 2100MHz band and a 1900 MHz band. The method may further comprise receivingat a second RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, second signalsvia the first antenna, where the second signals comprise signals withinat least one of a 1900 MHz band, a 1800 MHz band, a 900 MHz band and a850 MHz band. Additionally, third signals may be received via the firstantenna at a third RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, where thethird signals comprise signals within a VHF/UHF broadcast band.

In another embodiment of the invention, a system for an antennaarchitecture that handles world band cellular and broadcast channels maybe provided. The system may comprise a first radio frequency integratedcircuit (RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal coupled to at least afirst antenna capable of handling signals within the 2100 MHz band andthe 1900 MHz band. A second RFIC may be integrated within the mobileterminal coupled to the first antenna capable of handling signals withinthe 1900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 900 MHz and the 850 MHz band. A third RFIC maybe integrated within the mobile terminal coupled to the first antennacapable of handling signals within the VHF/UHF broadcast band. The firstRFIC may be a WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC. The second RFIC may be a GSM RFIC andthe third RFIC may be a DVB RFIC.

The system may comprise circuitry that couples the first RFIC to thefirst antenna via a first switch and a diplexer. The second RFIC may becoupled to the first antenna via the first switch and the diplexer. Thethird RFIC may be coupled to the first antenna via a second switch andthe diplexer. The second RFIC may also be coupled to the first antennavia the second switch and the diplexer. An output of the first RFIC maybe coupled to an input of at least a first amplifier. An output of thefirst amplifier may be coupled to an input of at least a first polyphasefilter. An output of the first polyphase filter may be coupled to aninput of the first switch. An output of the first switch may be coupledto an input of at least a second polyphase filter. An output of thesecond polyphase filter may be coupled to an input of at least a secondamplifier. An output of the second amplifier may be coupled to an inputof at least a third polyphase filter. An output of the third polyphasefilter may be coupled to an input of the first RFIC capable of handlingsignals within the 2100 MHz band.

An output of the first RFIC may be coupled to an input of at least athird amplifier. An output of the third amplifier may be coupled to aninput of at least a fourth polyphase filter. An output of the fourthpolyphase filter may be coupled to an input of the first switch. Anoutput of the first switch may be coupled to an input of at least afifth polyphase filter. An output of the fifth polyphase filter may becoupled to an input of at least a fourth amplifier. An output of thefourth amplifier may be coupled to an input of at least a sixthpolyphase filter. An output of the sixth polyphase filter may be coupledto an input of a first divider. An output of the first divider may becoupled to an input of the first RFIC capable of handling signals withinthe 1900 MHz band and an input of the second RFIC capable of handlingsignals within the 1900 MHz band.

The output of the first switch may be coupled to an input of at least afirst receive path bandpass filter. An output of the first receive pathbandpass filter may be coupled to an input of the second RFIC. An outputof the second RFIC may be coupled to an input of at least a firsttransmit path bandpass filter. An output of the first transmit pathbandpass filter may be coupled to the input of the first switch. Anoutput of the second RFIC may be coupled to an input of at least asecond transmit path bandpass filter. An output of the second transmitpath bandpass filter may be coupled to an input of at least a secondswitch. An output of the second switch may be coupled to an input of atleast a second receive path bandpass filter. An output of the secondreceive path bandpass filter may be coupled to an input of the secondRFIC.

An output of the second RFIC may be coupled to an input of at least afifth amplifier. An output of the fifth amplifier may be coupled to aninput of at least a seventh polyphase filter. An output of the seventhpolyphase filter may be coupled to an input of the second switch. Anoutput of the second switch may be coupled to an input of at least aeighth polyphase filter. An output of the eighth polyphase filter may becoupled to an input of at least a sixth amplifier. An output of thesixth amplifier may be coupled to an input of at least a ninth polyphasefilter. An output of the ninth polyphase filter may be coupled to aninput of a second divider. An output of the second divider may becoupled to an input of the first RFIC capable of handling signals withinthe 850 MHz band and an input of the second RFIC capable of handlingsignals within the 850 MHz band. The output of the second switch may becoupled to an input of the third RFIC. The first antenna may be coupledto an input of the third RFIC.

A second antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a first switch.The second antenna may also be coupled to the second RFIC via the firstswitch. A third antenna may be coupled to the third RFIC via at least asecond switch. The third antenna may be coupled to the second RFIC viathe second switch. The second antenna may be coupled to an input of thefirst switch. The third antenna may be coupled to an input of the secondswitch. The third antenna may be coupled to the input of the third RFICcapable of handling signals within the VHF/UHF broadcast band.

A fourth antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a seventhpolyphase filter in a transmit path capable of handling signals withinthe 850 MHz band. The fourth antenna may be coupled to the second RFICvia an eighth polyphase filter in a receive path capable of handlingsignals within the 850 MHz band. The fourth antenna may be coupled to aninput of the eighth polyphase filter. The output of the seventhpolyphase filter may be coupled to the fourth antenna. A fifth antennamay be coupled to the second RFIC via a second transmit path bandpassfilter in a transmit path capable of handling signals within the 850 MHzband and the 900 MHz band. A sixth antenna may be coupled to the secondRFIC via a second receive path bandpass filter in a receive path capableof handling signals within the 900 MHz band. A seventh antenna may becoupled to the second RFIC via a first transmit path bandpass filter ina transmit path capable of handling signals within the 1800 MHz band andthe 1900 MHz band. An eighth antenna may be coupled to the second RFICvia a first receive path bandpass filter in a receive path capable ofhandling signals within the 1800 MHz band.

A ninth antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a fourth polyphasefilter in a transmit path capable of handling signals within the 1900MHz band. The ninth antenna may be coupled to the second RFIC via afifth polyphase filter in a receive path capable of handling signalswithin the 1900 MHz band. The ninth antenna may be coupled to an inputof the fifth polyphase filter. The output of the fourth polyphase filtermay be coupled to the ninth antenna. A tenth antenna may be coupled tothe first RFIC via a first polyphase filter in a transmit path capableof handling signals within the 850 MHz band. The tenth antenna may becoupled to the first RFIC via a second polyphase filter in a receivepath capable of handling signals within the 850 MHz band. The tenthantenna may be coupled to an input of the second polyphase filter. Theoutput of the first polyphase filter may be coupled to the tenthantenna. An eleventh antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via asecond amplifier and a third polyphase filter in a receive path capableof handling signals within the 2100 MHz band. The second amplifier maybe a low noise amplifier. A twelfth antenna may be coupled to the firstRFIC via a first amplifier in a transmit path capable of handlingsignals within the 2100 MHz band. The first amplifier may be a poweramplifier. A thirteenth antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC and thesecond RFIC via a sixth polyphase filter and a fourth amplifier in areceive path capable of handling signals within the 1900 MHz band. Afourteenth antenna may be coupled to the first RFIC via a thirdamplifier in a transmit path capable of handling signals within the 1900MHz band.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an exemplary system for providingintegrated services between a cellular network and a digital videobroadcast network, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 c is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 d is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 e is a high-level block diagram of exemplary DVB-H receivercircuitry in a mobile terminal, which may be utilized in connection withan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 f is a block diagram illustrating the sharing of a multiplexer(MUX) by a plurality of MPEG2 services, which may be utilized inconnection with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of a mobile terminal that is adapted toreceive VHF/UHF broadcasts and cellular communications, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram illustrating receive processing circuit ofan RF integrated circuit (RFIC), in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplaryconfiguration for a RFIC and a base band processing circuit, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 a is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver singleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 b is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver dual antennaarchitecture for handling world band cellular and broadcast services, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 c is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 d is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 e is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 f is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 g is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 h is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A method for an antenna architecture that handles World band cellularand broadcast channels may be provided. The method may comprisereceiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a first antenna,where the first signals comprise signals within at least one of a 2100MHz band and a 1900 MHz band. The method may further comprise receivingat a second RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, second signalsvia the first antenna, where the second signals comprise signals withinat least one of a 1900 MHz band, a 1800 MHz band, a 900 MHz band and a850 MHz band. Additionally, third signals may be received via the firstantenna at a third RFIC integrated within the mobile terminal, where thethird signals comprise signals within a VHF/UHF broadcast band.

FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an exemplary system for providingintegrated services between a cellular network and a digital videobroadcast network, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 1 a, there is shown terrestrial broadcaster network102, wireless service provider network 104, service provider 106, portal108, public switched telephone network 110, and mobile terminals (MTs)116 a and 116 b. The terrestrial broadcaster network 102 may comprisetransmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer (Mux) 102 b, and information contentsource 114. The content source 114 may also be referred to as a datacarousel, which may comprise audio, data and video content. Theterrestrial broadcaster network 102 may also comprise VHF/UHF broadcastantennas 112 a and 112 b. The wireless service provider network 104 maycomprise mobile switching center (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality ofcellular base stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The terrestrial broadcaster network 102 may comprise suitable equipmentthat may be adapted to encode and/or encrypt data for transmission viathe transmitter 102 a. The transmitter 102 a in the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 may be adapted to utilize VHF/UHF broadcastchannels to communicate information to the mobile terminals 116 a, 116b. The multiplexer 102 b associated with the terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may be utilized to multiplex data from a plurality ofsources. For example, the multiplexer 102 b may be adapted to multiplexvarious types of information such as audio, video and/or data into asingle pipe for transmission by the transmitter 102 a. Content mediafrom the portal 108, which may be handled by the service provider 106may also be multiplexed by the multiplexer 102 b. The portal 108 may bean ISP service provider.

In one aspect of the invention, the terrestrial broadcaster network 102may be adapted to provide one or more digital television (DTV) channelsto the service provider 106. In this regard, the terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may comprise suitable high-speed or broadband interfacesthat may be utilized to facilitate transfer of the DTV channels from theterrestrial broadcast network 102 to the service provider. The serviceprovider 106 may then utilize at least a portion of the DTV channels toprovide television (TV) on demand service, or other similar types ofservices to the wireless service provider network 104. Accordingly, theservice provider 106 may further comprise suitable high-speed orbroadband interfaces that may be utilized to facilitate the transfer ofrelated TV on demand information to the MSC 118 a.

Although communication links between the terrestrial broadcast network102 and the service provider 106, and also the communication linksbetween the service provider 106 and the wireless service provider 104may be wired communication links, the invention may be not so limited.Accordingly, at least one of these communication links may be wirelesscommunication links. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, atleast one of these communication links may be an 802.x basedcommunication link such as 802.16 or WiMax broadband accesscommunication link. In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, atleast one of these connections may be a broadband line of sight (LOS)connection.

The wireless service provider network 104 may be a cellular or personalcommunication service (PCS) provider that may be adapted to handlebroadcast UMTS (B-UMTS). The term cellular as utilized herein refers toboth cellular and PCS frequencies bands. Hence, usage of the termcellular may comprise any band of frequencies that may be utilized forcellular communication and/or any band of frequencies that may beutilized for PCS communication. Notwithstanding, broadcast UMTS (B-UMTS)may also be referred to as MBMS. MBMS is a high-speed data service thatis overlaid on WCDMA to provide much higher data rates than may beprovided by core WCDMA. In this regard, the B-UMTS services may besuperimposed on the cellular or PCS network.

The wireless service provider network 104 may utilize cellular or PCSaccess technologies such as GSM, CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, AMPS, N-AMPS,and/or TDMA. The cellular network may be utilized to offerbi-directional services via uplink and downlink communication channels,while the B-UMTS or MBMS network may be utilized to provide aunidirectional broadband services via a downlink channel. The B-UMTS orMBMS unidirectional downlink channel may be utilized to broadcastcontent media and/or multimedia type information to the mobile terminals116 a and 116 b. Although MBMS provides only unidirectional downlinkcommunication, the invention may be not so limited. In this regard,other bidirectional communication methodologies comprising uplink anddownlink capabilities, whether symmetric or asymmetric, may be utilized.

Although the wireless service provider network 104 is illustrated as aGSM, CDMA, WCDMA based network and/or variants thereof, the invention isnot limited in this regard. Accordingly, the wireless service providernetwork 104 may be an 802.11 based wireless network or wireless localarea network (WLAN). The wireless service provider network 104 may alsobe adapted to provide 802.11 based wireless communication in addition toGSM, CDMA, WCDMA, CDMA2000 based network and/or variants thereof. Inthis case, the mobile terminals 116 a, 116 b may also be compliant withthe 802.11 based wireless network.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, if themobile terminal (MT) 116 a is within an operating range of the VHF/UHFbroadcasting antenna 112 a and moves out of the latter's operating rangeand into an operating range of the VHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 b,then VHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 b may be adapted to provideVHF/UHF broadcast services to the mobile terminal 116 a. If the mobileterminal 116 a subsequently moves back into the operating range of theVHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 a, then the broadcasting antenna 112 amay be adapted to provide VHF/UHF broadcasting service to the mobileterminal 116 a. In a somewhat similar manner, if the mobile terminal(MT) 116 b is within an operating range of the VHF/UHF broadcastingantenna 112 b and moves out of the latter's operating range and into anoperating range of the broadcasting antenna 112 a, then the VHF/UHFbroadcasting antenna 112 a may be adapted to provide VHF/UHFbroadcasting service to the mobile terminal 116 b. If the mobileterminal 116 b subsequently moves back into the operating range ofbroadcasting antenna 112 b, then the VHF/UHF broadcasting antenna 112 bmay be adapted to provide VHF/UHF broadcast services to the mobileterminal 116 b.

The service provider 106 may comprise suitable interfaces, circuitry,logic and/or code that may be adapted to facilitate communicationbetween the terrestrial broadcasting network 102 and the wirelesscommunication network 104. In an illustrative embodiment of theinvention the service provider 106 may be adapted to utilize itsinterfaces to facilitate exchange control information with theterrestrial broadcast network 102 and to exchange control informationwith the wireless service provider 104. The control informationexchanged by the service provider 106 with the terrestrial broadcastingnetwork 102 and the wireless communication network 104 may be utilizedto control certain operations of the mobile terminals, the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 and the wireless communication network 104.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the service provider106 may also comprise suitable interfaces, circuitry, logic and/or codethat may be adapted to handle network policy decisions. For example, theservice provider 106 may be adapted to manage a load on the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 and/or a load on the wireless service providernetwork 104. Load management may be utilized to distribute the flow ofinformation throughout the terrestrial broadcast network 102 and/or aload on the wireless service provider network 104. For example, ifinformation is to be broadcasted via the wireless service providernetwork 104 to a plurality of mobile terminals within a particular cellhandled by the base station 104 a and it is determined that this mayoverload the wireless service provider network 104, then the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 may be configured to broadcast the information tothe mobile terminals.

The service provider 106 may also be adapted to handle certain types ofservice requests, which may have originated from a mobile terminal. Forexample, the mobile terminal 116 a may request that information bedelivered to it via a downlink VHF/UHF broadcast channel. However, adownlink VHF/UHF broadcast channel may be unavailable for the deliveryof the requested information. As a result, the service provider 106 mayroute the requested information through an MBMS channel via the basestation 104 c to the mobile terminal 116 a. The requested informationmay be acquired from the content source 114 and/or the portal 108. Inanother example, the mobile terminal 116 b may request that informationbe delivered to it via a downlink cellular channel. However, the serviceprovider 106 may determine that delivery of the information is notcritical and/or the cheapest way to deliver to the mobile terminal 116 bis via a downlink VHF/UHF broadcast channel. As a result, the serviceprovider 106 may route the requested information from the portal 108 orcontent service 114 to the mobile terminal 116 b. The service provider106 may also have the capability to send at least a portion ofinformation to be delivered to, for example, mobile terminal 116 a viathe VHF/UHF broadcast channel and a remaining portion of the informationto be delivered via the cellular broadcast channel.

The portal 108 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code thatmay be adapted to provide content media to the service provider 106 viaone or more communication links. These communication links, although notshown, may comprise wired and/or wireless communication links. Thecontent media that may be provided by the portal 108 may comprise audio,data, video or any combination thereof. In this regard, the portal 108may be adapted to provide one or more specialized information servicesto the service provider 106.

The public switched telephone network (PSTN) 110 may be coupled to theMSC 118 a. Accordingly, the MSC 118 a may be adapted to switch callsoriginating from within the PSTN 110 to one or more mobile terminalsserviced by the wireless service provider 104. Similarly, the MSC 118 amay be adapted to switch calls originating from mobile terminalsserviced by the wireless service provider 104 to one or more telephonesserviced by the PSTN 110.

The information content source 114 may comprise a data carousel. In thisregard, the information content source 114 may be adapted to providevarious information services, which may comprise online data includingaudio, video and data content. The information content source 114 mayalso comprise file download, and software download capabilities. Ininstances where a mobile terminal fails to acquire requested informationfrom the information content source 114 or the requested information isunavailable, then the mobile terminal may acquire the requestedinformation via, for example, a B-UMTS from the portal 108. The requestmay be initiated through an uplink cellular communication path.

The mobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to handle the processing ofuplink and downlink cellular channels for various access technologiesand broadcast VHF/UHF technologies. In an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, the mobile terminals 116 a, 116 b may be adapted to utilizeone or more cellular access technologies such as GSM, GPRS, EDGE, CDMA,WCDMA, CDMA2000, HSDPA and MBMS (B-UMTS). The mobile terminal may alsobe adapted to receive and process VHF/UHF broadcast signals in theVHF/UHF bands. For example, a mobile terminal may be adapted to receiveand process DVB-H signals. A mobile terminal may be adapted to requestinformation via a first cellular service and in response, receivecorresponding information via a VHF/UHF broadcast service. A mobileterminal may also be adapted to request information from a serviceprovider via a cellular service and in response, receive correspondinginformation via a data service, which is provided via the cellularservice. The mobile terminals may also be adapted to receive VHF/UHFbroadcast information from either the base stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c,104 d or the VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b. In instanceswhere a mobile terminal receives broadcast information from any of thebase stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, or 104 d via a downlink MBMScommunication channel, then the mobile terminal may communicatecorresponding uplink information via an uplink cellular communicationchannel.

In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal may be adapted toutilize a plurality of broadcast integrated circuits for receiving andprocessing VHF/UHF channels, and a plurality of cellular integratedcircuits for receiving and processing cellular or PCS channels. In thisregard, the plurality of cellular integrated circuits may be adapted tohandle different cellular access technologies. For example, at least oneof the cellular integrated circuits may be adapted to handle GSM, and atleast one of the cellular integrated circuits may be adapted to handleWCDMA. For broadcast channels, each of the plurality of broadcastintegrated circuits may be adapted to handle at least one VH/UHFchannel.

In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal may be adaptedto utilize a single broadcast integrated circuit for receiving andprocessing VHF/UHF channels, and a single cellular integrated circuitfor receiving and processing cellular or PCS channels. In this regard,the single cellular integrated circuit may be adapted to handledifferent cellular access technologies. For example, at least one of thecellular integrated circuit may be adapted to handle GSM, and at leastone of the cellular integrated circuits may be adapted to handle WCDMA.For broadcast channels, the single broadcast integrated circuit may beadapted to handle at least one VHF/UHF channel. Each of the mobileterminals may comprise a single memory interface that may be adapted tohandle processing of the broadcast communication information andprocessing of cellular communication information. In this regard, anuplink cellular communication path may be utilized to facilitatereceiving of broadcast information via a broadcast communication path.

In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile terminal may be adaptedto utilize a single integrated circuit for receiving and processingbroadcast VHF/UHF channels, and for receiving and processing cellular orPCS channels. In this regard, the single broadcast and cellularintegrated circuit may be adapted to handle different cellular accesstechnologies. For example, the single integrated circuit may comprise aplurality of modules each of which may be adapted to receive and processa particular cellular access technology or a VHF/UHF broadcast channel.Accordingly, a first module may be adapted to handle GSM, a secondmodule may be adapted to handle WCDMA, and a third module may be adaptedto handle at least one VHF/UHF channel.

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 b, there isshown terrestrial broadcaster network 102, wireless service providernetwork 104, service provider 106, portal 108, public switched telephonenetwork 110, and mobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b. The terrestrialbroadcaster network 102 may comprise transmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer(Mux) 102 b, and VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b. AlthoughVHF/UHF broadcast antenna 112 b is illustrated separately from theterrestrial broadcast network 102, it may still be part of theterrestrial broadcast network 102. The wireless service provider network104 may comprise mobile switching center (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality ofcellular base stations 104 a, 104 b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The system of FIG. 1 b is somewhat similar to the FIG. 1 a with theexception that FIG. 1 b has the content source 114 located external tothe terrestrial broadcast network 102. The content source 114, which mayalso be referred to as a data carousel, may comprise audio, data andvideo content. At least a portion of the audio, data and/or videocontent stored in the content source 114 may be linked so that ifinformation cannot be retrieved from the content source 114, then it maybe received from the portal 108. In the system of FIG. 1 b, a providerother than the terrestrial broadcaster 102 may manage the content source114. Notwithstanding, the audio, video and/or data from the contentsource 114 may still be multiplexed by the multiplexer 102 b in theterrestrial broadcast network 114.

FIG. 1 c is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 c, there isshown terrestrial broadcaster network 102, wireless service providernetwork 104, portal 108, public switched telephone network 110, andmobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b. The terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may comprise transmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer (Mux) 102b, service provider 106, and VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b.The wireless service provider network 104 may comprise mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality of cellular base stations 104 a, 104b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The system of FIG. 1 c is somewhat similar to the FIG. 1 a with theexception that FIG. 1 b has the service provider 106 co-located with theterrestrial broadcast network 102. In this regard, the terrestrialbroadcast network 102 may control the functions of the service provider106. Since the terrestrial broadcast network 102 controls the functionsof the service provider, the broadcast services may be more efficientlyprovided to the mobile terminals via the MBMS path provided by thewireless service provider 104 and/or the VHF/UHF broadcast downlink pathprovided by the terrestrial broadcaster network 102. Hence, instead ofhaving to send information to an externally located service provider,the integrated control and logic services provided the terrestrialbroadcaster network 102 and service provider 106 may instantly makedecisions of how best to handle information for a mobile terminal.

FIG. 1 d is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of theexemplary system of FIG. 1 a for providing integrated services between acellular network and a digital video broadcast network, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 d, there isshown terrestrial broadcaster network 102, wireless service providernetwork 104, portal 108, public switched telephone network 110, andmobile terminals (MTs) 116 a and 116 b. The terrestrial broadcasternetwork 102 may comprise transmitter (Tx) 102 a, multiplexer (Mux) 102b, and VHF/UHF broadcast antennas 112 a and 112 b. The wireless serviceprovider network 104 may comprise service provider 106, mobile switchingcenter (MSC) 118 a, and a plurality of cellular base stations 104 a, 104b, 104 c, and 104 d.

The system of FIG. 1 d is somewhat similar to the FIG. 1 a with theexception that FIG. 1 b has the service provider 106 co-located with thewireless service provider network 104. In this regard, the wirelessservice provider network 104 may control the functions of the serviceprovider 106. Since the wireless service provider network 104 controlsthe functions of the service provider 106, the broadcast services may bemore efficiently provided to the mobile terminals via the MBMS pathprovided by the wireless service provider 104 and/or the VHF/UHFbroadcast downlink path provided by the terrestrial broadcaster network102. Hence, instead of having to send information to an externallylocated service provider 106 as illustrated in FIG. 1 a, the integratedcontrol and logic services provided the service provider 106 mayinstantly make decisions of how best to handle communication ofinformation for a mobile terminal.

In another embodiment of the invention, since many of the servicesprovided by the service provider 106 may already be integrated into thewireless service provider's 104 infrastructure, then the complexity ofthe service provider functions may be significantly reduced. Forexample, the wireless service provider 104, the latter of which alreadyhas the pertinent infrastructure in place, may now handle operationadministration maintenance and provisioning (OAM&P) functions, which maybe required by the service provider 106. Since the uplink capabilitiesare inherent in only the wireless service provider network 104, and theservice provider function are also located within the service providernetwork 106, the uplink capabilities for the mobile stations 116 a, 116b may be more efficiently managed from within the wireless serviceprovider network 104.

FIG. 1 e is a high-level block diagram of exemplary DVB-H receivercircuitry in a mobile terminal, which may be utilized in connection withan embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 e, there is shown amobile terminal 130. The mobile terminal 130 may comprise a DVB-Hdemodulator 132 and processing circuitry block 142. The DVB-Hdemodulator block 132 may comprise a DVB-T demodulator 134, time slicingblock 138, and MPE-FEC block 140.

The DVB-T demodulator 134 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/orcode that may be adapted to demodulate a terrestrial DVB signal. In thisregard, the DVB-T demodulator 134 may be adapted to downconvert areceived DVB-T signal to a suitable bit rate that may be handled by themobile terminal 130. The DVB-T demodulator may be adapted to handle 2 k,4 k and/or 8 k modes.

The time slicing block 138 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/orcode that may be adapted to minimize power consumption in the mobileterminal 130, particularly in the DVB-T demodulator 134. In general,time slicing reduces average power consumption in the mobile terminal bysending data in bursts via much higher instantaneous bit rates. In orderto inform the DVB-T demodulator 134 when a next burst is going to besent, a delta indicating the start of the next burst is transmittedwithin a current burst. During transmission, no data for an elementarystream (ES) is transmitted so as to allow other elementary streams tooptimally share the bandwidth. Since the DVB-T demodulator 134 knowswhen the next burst will be received, the DVB-T demodulator 134 mayenter a power saving mode between bursts in order to consume less power.Reference 144 indicates a control mechanism that handles the DVB-Tdemodulator 134 power via the time slicing block 138. The DVB-Tdemodulator 134 may also be adapted to utilize time slicing to monitordifferent transport streams from different channels. For example, theDVB-T demodulator 134 may utilize time slicing to monitor neighboringchannels between bursts to optimize handover.

The MPE-FEC block 140 may comprise suitable circuitry, logic and/or codethat may be adapted to provide error correction during decoding. On theencoding side, MPE-FEC encoding provides improved carrier to noise ratio(C/N), improved Doppler performance, and improved tolerance tointerference resulting from impulse noise. During decoding, the MPE-FECblock 140 may be adapted to determine parity information from previouslyMPE-FEC encoded datagrams. As a result, during decoding, the MPE-FECblock 140 may generate datagrams that are error-free even in instanceswhen received channel conditions are poor. The processing circuitryblock 142 may comprise suitable processor, circuitry, logic and/or codethat may be adapted to process IP datagrams generated from an output ofthe MPE-FEC block 140. The processing circuitry block 142 may also beadapted to process transport stream packets from the DVB-T demodulator134.

In operation, the DVB-T demodulator 134 may be adapted to receive aninput DVB-T RF signal, demodulate the received input DVB-T RF signal soas to generate data at a much lower bit rate. In this regard, the DVB-Tdemodulator 134 recovers MPEG-2 transport stream (TS) packets from theinput DVB-T RF signal. The MPE-FEC block 140 may then correct any errorthat may be located in the data and the resulting IP datagrams may besent to the processing circuitry block 142 for processing. Transportstream packets from the DVB-T demodulator 134 may also be communicatedto the processing circuitry block 142 for processing.

FIG. 1 f is a block diagram illustrating the sharing of a multiplexer(MUX) by a plurality of MPEG2 services, which may be utilized inconnection with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1 f,there is shown a transmitter block 150, a receiver block 151 and achannel 164. The transmitter block 150 may comprise a DVB-H encapsulatorblock 156, a multiplexer 158, and a DVB-T modulator 162. Also shownassociated with the transmitter block 150 is a plurality of service datacollectively referenced as 160. The receiver block 151 may comprise aDVB-H demodulator block 166 and a DVB-H decapsulation block 168. TheDVB-H encapsulator block 156 may comprise MPE block 156 a, MPE-FEC block156 b and time slicing block 156 c. The multiplexer 156 may comprisesuitable logic circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to handlemultiplexing of IP encapsulated DVB-H data and service data. Theplurality of service data collectively referenced as 160 may compriseMPEG-2 formatted data, which may comprise for example, audio, videoand/or data. The DVB-T modulator 162 may comprise suitable logiccircuitry and/or code that may be adapted to generate an output RFsignal from the transmitter block 150.

The DVB-H demodulator block 166 associated with the receiver block 151is similar to the DVB-H demodulator block 132 of FIG. 1 e. The DVB-Hdecapsulation block 168 may comprise MPE block 168 a, MPE-FEC block 168b and time slicing block 168 c. The DVB-H decapsulation block 168 maycomprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapteddecapsulate the IP data that was encapsulated and multiplexed by thetransmitter block 150. The output of the DVB-H demodulator 166 is thetransport stream packets, which comprised the multiplexed outputgenerated by the multiplexer 158.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of a mobile terminal that is adapted toreceive VHF/UHF broadcasts and cellular communications, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 a, there isshown mobile terminal (MT) or handset 202. The mobile terminal 202 maycomprise multiplexer (MUX) 204 and processing circuitry 206.

The multiplexer 204 may comprise suitable logic circuitry and/or codethat may be adapted to multiplex incoming signals, which may compriseVHF/UHF broadcast channel and at least one cellular channel. Thecellular channel may be within the range of both cellular and PCSfrequency bands.

The processing circuitry 206 may comprise, for example, an RF integratedcircuit (RFIC) or RF front end (RFFE). In this regard, the processingcircuitry 206 may comprise at least one receiver front end (RFE)circuit. A first of these circuits may be adapted to handle processingof the VHF/UHF broadcast channel and a second of these circuits may beadapted to handle a cellular channel. In an embodiment of the invention,a single RFIC may comprise a plurality of RFE processing circuits, eachof which may be adapted to process a particular cellular channel.Accordingly, a single RFIC comprising a plurality of cellular RFEprocessing circuits may be adapted to handle a plurality of cellularchannels. In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of VHF/UHF RFEprocessing circuits may be integrated in a single RFIC. In this regard,a mobile terminal may be adapted to simultaneously handle a plurality ofdifferent VHF/UHF channels. For example, a mobile terminal may beadapted to simultaneously receive a first VHF/UHF channel bearing videoand a second VHF/UHF channel bearing audio.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram illustrating receive processing circuit ofan RF integrated circuit (RFIC), in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 2 b, there is shown antenna 211, receiverfront end (RFE) circuit 210, and baseband processing block 224. Thereceiver front end (RFE) circuit 210 may comprise a low noise amplifier(LNA) 212, a mixer 214, an oscillator 216, a low noise amplifier oramplifier or amplifier 218, a transmit path bandpass filter 220 and ananalog-to-digital converter (A/D) 222.

The antenna 211 may be adapted to receive at least one of a plurality ofsignals. For example, the antenna 211 may be adapted to receive aplurality of signals in the GSM band, a plurality of signals in theWCDMA and/or a plurality of signals in the VHF/UHF band. U.S.application Ser. No. 11/010,883 filed on Dec. 13, 2004 and U.S.application Ser. No. 11/010,487 filed on Dec. 13, 2004 disclose variousantenna configurations that may be utilized for a plurality of operatingfrequency bands.

The receiver front end (RFE) circuit 210 may comprise suitablecircuitry, logic and/or code that may be adapted to convert a receivedRF signal down to baseband. An input of the low noise amplifier 212 maybe coupled to the antenna 211 so that it may receive RF signals from theantenna 211. The low noise amplifier 212 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to receive an input RF signalfrom the antenna 211 and amplify the received RF signal in such a mannerthat an output signal generated by the low noise amplifier 212 has avery little additional noise.

The mixer 214 in the RFE circuit 210 may comprise suitable circuitryand/or logic that may be adapted to mix an output of the low noiseamplifier 212 with an oscillator signal generated by the oscillator 216.The oscillator 216 may comprise suitable circuitry and/or logic that maybe adapted to provide a oscillating signal that may be adapted to mixthe output signal generated from the output of the low noise amplifier212 down to a baseband. The low noise amplifier (LNA) or amplifier 218may comprise suitable circuitry and/or logic that may be adapted to lownoise amplify and output signal generated by the mixer 214. An output ofthe low noise amplifier or amplifier 218 may be communicated to thetransmit path bandpass filter 220. The transmit path bandpass filter 220may comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/or code that may be adaptedto transmit path bandpass filter the output signal generated from theoutput of the low noise amplifier 220. The transmit path bandpass filterblock 220 retains a desired signal and filters out unwanted signalcomponents such as higher signal components comprising noise. An outputof the transmit path bandpass filter 220 may be communicated to theanalog-digital-converter for processing.

The analog-to-digital converter (A/D) 222 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to convert the analog signalgenerated from the output of the transmit path bandpass filter 220 to adigital signal. The analog-to-digital converter 222 may generate asampled digital representation of the transmit path bandpass filteredsignal that may be communicated to the baseband-processing block 224 forprocessing. The baseband processing block 224 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to process digitalbaseband signals received form an output of the A/D 222. Although theA/D 222 is illustrated as part of the RFE circuit 210, the invention maynot be so limited. Accordingly, the A/D 222 may be integrated as part ofthe baseband processing block 224. In operation, the RFE circuit 210 isadapted to receive RF signals via antenna 211 and convert the receivedRF signals to a sampled digital representation, which may becommunicated to the baseband processing block 224 for processing.

FIG. 3 is a high-level block diagram illustrating an exemplaryconfiguration for a RFIC and a base band processing circuit, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3,there is shown RFIC 330 and baseband circuitry 332. The RFIC 330comprises a plurality of RF processing circuits 330 a, 330 b, 330 c and330 n. The RF processing circuits 330 a, 330 b, 330 c and 330 n may beintegrated in a single integrated circuit (IC) or chip. The basebandprocessing circuitry 332 comprises a plurality of baseband processingcircuits 332 a, 332 b, 332 c and 332 n. The baseband processing circuits332 a, 332 b, 332 c and 332 n may be integrated into a single integratedcircuit (IC) or chip.

In operation, each of the RF processing circuits in the RFIC 330 may beadapted to process a single channel. For example, each of the RFprocessing circuits 330 a, 330 b and 330 c may be adapted to processseparate cellular channel, namely, channel 1, channel 2 and channel(n−1), respectively. The RF processing circuit 330 n many be adapted toprocess a VHF/UHF broadcast channel n.

Each of the baseband processing circuits in the baseband processingcircuitry 330 may be adapted to process a single channel. For example,each of the baseband processing circuits 332 a, 332 b and 332 c may beadapted to process separate cellular channels, namely, channel 1,channel 2 and channel (n−1), respectively. The RF processing circuit 332n may be adapted to process a VHF/UHF broadcast channel n. Use of asingle RFIC and a single baseband processing integrated circuit saves onthe size of the processing circuitry, which may significantly reducecost.

FIG. 4 a is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver singleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referringto FIG. 4 a, there is shown a WCDMA/HSDPA radio frequency integratedcircuit (RFIC) 410, a GSM RFIC 412, a DVB RFIC 414, a plurality ofdividers 408 a and 408 b, a plurality of power amplifiers 416 a, 416 band 416 c, a plurality of low noise amplifiers 418 a, 418 b and 418 c, aplurality of receive path bandpass filters BPF 420 a and 420 b, aplurality of transmit path bandpass filters BPF 422 a and 422 b, aplurality of switches 424 a and 424 b, a diplexer 426, a plurality ofpolyphase filters 428 a, 428 b, 428 c, 428 d, 428 e, 428 f, 428 g, 428 hand 428 i and an antenna 430.

The WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry and/orcode that may be adapted to receive and transmit a WCDMA/HSDPA channelto process RF voice, data and/or control information. This channel maybe divided into overlapping physical and logical channels. The physicalchannels may be uniquely defined by spreading codes and the logicalchannels, for example, control, voice and data channels may comprise agroup of bits, frames and fields. The GSM RFIC 412 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to receive and transmita plurality of RF channels in the 900 MHz and the 1800 MHz band, forexample. The radio channel structure for a GSM mobile station may befrequency division duplex (FDD), for example. By utilizing the FDDchannel division, where data may be transmitted on one frequency andreceived on another frequency, the mobile handset may receive andtransmit at different times. The radio frequency separation of forward(downlink) and reverse (uplink) frequencies on the 900 MHz band may be45 MHz, for example. The transmit band for the base station may be 935MHz-960 MHz, for example, and the transmit band for the mobile handsetmay be 890 MHz-915 MHz, for example.

Similarly, the transmit band for the base station in the 1800 MHz bandmay be 1805 MHz-1880 MHz, for example, and the transmit band for themobile handset in the 1800 MHz band may be 1710 MHz-1785 MHz, forexample. In the 1900 MHz band, the downlink base transmitter may use asub-band in the frequency range 1930 MHz-1990 MHz, for example, and theuplink may use a corresponding sub-band in the frequency range 1850MHz-1910 MHz, for example. The DVB RFIC 414 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry and/or code that may be adapted to receive and delivermultimedia and other data to a mobile handset via a VHF/UHF broadcastchannel, for example. The payload utilized by DVB-H may be either IPdatagrams or other network layer datagrams encapsulated intomultiprotocol encapsulated sections.

The power amplifiers (PA) 416 a, 416 b and 416 c may be adapted toprovide a high output current to drive an antenna which may be alow-impedance load. The PA 416 a, 416 b and 416 c may be adapted toamplify the signal received from the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 and transmitit to the polyphase filters 428 a, 428 d and 428 g respectively. The lownoise amplifiers LNA 418 a, 418 b and 418 c may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to amplify the output of thepolyphase filters 428 b, 428 e and 428 h respectively. The receive pathbandpass filters 420 a and 420 b may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,and/or code that may be adapted to filter the received cellularbroadcast channels in the 1800 MHz band receive channel and 900 MHz bandreceive channel respectively. The receive path bandpass filter 420 a maybe adapted to output frequencies within digital cellular system (DCS)1800 band, which may provide a GSM downlink in the range of about 1805MHz-1880 MHz. The receive path bandpass filter 420 b may be adapted tooutput frequencies within GSM 900 band, which may provide GSM downlinksignals in the range of about 925 MHz-960 MHz, for example. The transmitpath bandpass filters 422 a and 422 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to filter the transmittedcellular broadcast channels in the 1800 MHz/1900 MHz band and 850MHz/900 MHz band transmit channels respectively.

The switch 424 a may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/or codethat may be adapted to switch between a transmit or receive channel forthe WCDMA 2100 MHz channel, and GSM 1800 MHz band receive channel, aWCDMA/GSM 1900 MHz band channel and a GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz bandtransmit channel. The switch 424 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to switch between a GSM 900MHz band transmit channel, a GSM 900 MHz band receive channel, aWCDMA/GSM 850 MHz channel and a receive channel for the DVB broadcastchannel. The diplexer 426 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, and/orcode that may be adapted to parallely feed a single antenna, forexample, antenna 430 to two transmitters at the same or differentfrequencies without the transmitters interfering with each other and maycouple a transmitter and receiver to the same antenna, for example,antenna 430 for use in mobile communications.

The polyphase filters 428 a, 428 b, 428 c, 428 d, 428 e, 428 f, 428 g,428 h and 428 i may be adapted to selectively filter signals without theneed of using high Q bandpass sections. Selectivity may be ensured byutilizing polyphase signals and a plurality of low-pass filter sectionswhere matching driven power consumption is a variable. The polyphasefilter 428 a may be adapted to receive the amplified output from thepower amplifier 416 a and generate, for example, a quad wavelength (λ/4)output to the switch 424 a by selectively filtering the WCDMA 2100 MHztransmit channel. The polyphase filter 428 b may be adapted to receive,for example, the quad wavelength (λ/4) output of the switch 424 a andgenerate an output to the LNA 418 a. The polyphase filter 428 c may beadapted to receive the amplified output from the LNA 418 a and generatean output to the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410.

The polyphase filter 428 d may be adapted to receive the amplifiedoutput from the power amplifier 416 b and generate a quad wavelength(λ/4) output to the switch 424 a by selectively filtering the WCDMA 1900MHz transmit channel. The polyphase filter 428 e may be adapted toreceive the quad wavelength (λ/4) output of the switch 424 a andgenerate an output to the LNA 418 b. The polyphase filter 428 f may beadapted to receive the amplified output from the LNA 418 b and generatean output to the divider 408 a. The divider 408 a may be adapted tosplit the received output from the polyphase filter 428 f into twochannels, for example, one of which may be a WCDMA 1900 MHz band receivechannel that may be input to the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 and the other maybe a GSM 1900 MHz band receive channel that may be input to the GSM RFIC412.

The polyphase filter 428 g may be adapted to receive the amplifiedoutput from the power amplifier 416 c and generate, for example, a quadwavelength (λ/4) output to the switch 424 b by selectively filtering theWCDMA 850 MHz transmit channel. The polyphase filter 428 h may beadapted to receive, for example, the quad wavelength (λ/4) output of theswitch 424 b and generate an output to the LNA 418 c. The polyphasefilter 428 i may be adapted to receive the amplified output from the LNA418 c and generate an output to the divider 408 b. The divider 408 b maybe adapted to split the received output from the polyphase filter 428 iinto two signals, for example, one of which may be a WCDMA 850 MHz bandreceive channel that may be input to the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 and theother may be a GSM 850 MHz band receive channel that may be input to theGSM RFIC 412. The antenna 430 may be adapted to transmit and receivesignals to and from the diplexer 426.

The antenna 430 may be coupled to the diplexer 426. The diplexer 426 maybe coupled to a plurality of switches for example, 424 a and 424 b. Theswitch 424 a may be adapted to switch between one or more states. In onestate, for example, the switch 424 a may be coupled to the polyphasefilters 428 a and 428 b in the WCDMA 2100 MHz band transmit and receivechannels respectively and the receive path bandpass filter 420 a in theGSM 1800 MHz band receive channel. In another state, for example, theswitch 424 a may be coupled to the polyphase filters 428 d and 428 e inthe WCDMA 1900 MHz band transmit and receive channels respectively. Inanother state, for example, the switch 424 a may be coupled to thetransmit path bandpass filter 422 a in the GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz bandtransmit channel. The switch 424 b may be adapted to switch between oneor more states. In one state, for example, the switch 424 b may becoupled to the receive path bandpass filter 420 b that may be adapted tooutput frequencies within GSM 900 MHz band. In another state, forexample, the switch 424 b may be coupled to the transmit path bandpassfilter 422 b in the GSM 850 MHz/900 MHz band transmit channel. Inanother state, for example, the switch 424 b may be coupled to thepolyphase filters 428 g and 428 h in the WCDMA 850 MHz band transmit andreceive channels respectively. In another state, for example, the switch424 b may be coupled to the DVB RFIC 414 via the VHF/UHF broadcastchannel.

The WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 may be coupled to the power amplifier 416 a inthe transmit section of the WCDMA 2100 MHz band channel and may becoupled to the polyphase filter 428 c in the receive section of theWCDMA 2100 MHz band channel. The output of the power amplifier 416 a maybe coupled to the polyphase filter 428 a. The LNA 418 a may be coupledto the output of the polyphase filter 428 b and the input of thepolyphase filter 428 c. The output of the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 may becoupled to the input of the power amplifier 416 b. The output of thepower amplifier 416 b may be coupled to the polyphase filter 428 d inthe transmit section of the WCDMA 1900 MHz band channel. The output ofthe polyphase filter 428 e may be coupled to the input of the low noiseamplifier 418 b. The output of the LNA 418 b may be coupled to the inputof the polyphase filter 428 f. The output of the polyphase filter 428 fmay be coupled to the divider 408 a. The divider 408 a may be adapted tosplit the received output from the polyphase filter 428 f into twochannels, for example, one of which may be a WCDMA 1900 MHz band receivechannel that may be input to the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 and the other maybe a GSM 1900 MHz band receive channel that may be input to the GSM RFIC412.

The GSM RFIC 412 may be coupled to the output of the BPF 420 a in theGSM 1800 MHz band receive channel and may be coupled to the input of thetransmit path BPF 422 a in the 1800 MHz transmit channel. The GSM RFIC412 may be further coupled to the output of the BPF 420 b in the GSM 900MHz band receive channel and may be coupled to the input of the transmitpath BPF 422 b in the 900 MHz transmit channel. The output of theWCDMA/HSDPA RFIC 410 may be coupled to the input of the power amplifier416 c. The output of the power amplifier 416 c may be coupled to thepolyphase filter 428 g in the transmit section of the WCDMA 850 MHz bandchannel. The output of the polyphase filter 428 f may be coupled to theinput of the low noise amplifier 418 c. The output of the LNA 418 c maybe coupled to the input of the polyphase filter 428 i. The output of thepolyphase filter 428 i may be coupled to the divider 408 b. The divider408 b may be adapted to split the received output from the polyphasefilter 428 i into two channels, for example, one of which may be a WCDMA850 MHz band receive channel that may be input to the WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC410 and the other may be a GSM 850 MHz band receive channel that may beinput to the GSM RFIC 412.

FIG. 4 b is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver dual antennaarchitecture for handling world band cellular and broadcast services, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 b is similar toFIG. 4 a, except that the diplexer 426 may be removed and the switches424 a and 424 b may be directly coupled to the antennas 432 and 434respectively.

FIG. 4 c is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 c issimilar to FIG. 4 b, except that the DVB RFIC 414 may be decoupled fromthe switch 424 b and may be coupled directly to the antenna 436.

FIG. 4 d is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 d issimilar to FIG. 4 c, except that the WCDMA/GSM 850 MHz band channel maybe decoupled from the switch 424 b and may be coupled to the antenna438.

FIG. 4 e is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 e issimilar to FIG. 4 d, except that the antenna 434 and the switch 424 bmay be removed. The antenna 440 may be coupled to the transmit pathbandpass filter 422 b. The antenna 442 may be coupled to the receivepath bandpass filter 420 b. The GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz band transmitchannel may be decoupled from the switch 424 a and may be coupled to theantenna 444.

FIG. 4 f is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 f issimilar to FIG. 4 e, except that the switch 424 a and antenna 432 may beremoved. The antenna 450 may be coupled to the polyphase filters 428 aand 428 b in the WCDMA 2100 MHz band transmit and receive channelrespectively. The antenna 448 may be coupled to the polyphase filters428 d and 428 e in the WCDMA 1900 MHz band transmit and receive channelrespectively. The antenna 446 may be coupled to the receive pathbandpass filter 420 a in the GSM 1800 MHz band receive channel. Theantenna 444 may be coupled to the transmit path bandpass filter 422 a inthe GSM 1800 MHz/1900 MHz band transmit channel. The antenna 436 may becoupled to the DVB RFIC 414 via the DVB channel.

FIG. 4 g is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 g issimilar to FIG. 4 f, except that the antenna 450 may be replaced withtwo antennas, for example, antennas 452 and 454. The antenna 452 may becoupled directly to the power amplifier 416 a in the WCDMA 2100 MHz bandtransmit channel. The antenna 454 may be coupled directly to the LNA 418a in the WCDMA 2100 MHz band receive channel.

FIG. 4 h is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile receiver multipleantenna architecture for handling world band cellular and broadcastservices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 h issimilar to FIG. 4 g, except that the antenna 448 may be replaced withtwo antennas, for example, antennas 456 and 458. The antenna 456 may becoupled directly to the power amplifier 416 b in the WCDMA 1900 MHz bandtransmit channel. The antenna 458 may be coupled directly to the LNA 418b in the WCDMA 1900 MHz band receive channel.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A system for an antenna architecture that handles world band cellularand broadcast channels, the system comprising: a first radio frequencyintegrated circuit (RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal coupled toat least a first antenna capable of handling signals within a WCDMA 850MHz band and one or both of: a WCDMA 2100 MHz band and/or a WCDMA 1900MHz band; a second RFIC integrated within said mobile terminal coupledto said first antenna capable of handling signals within a GSM 850 MHzband, a GSM 900 MHz band and one or both of: a GSM 1900 MHz band and/ora GSM 1800 MHz band; and a third RFIC integrated within said mobileterminal coupled to said first antenna capable of handling digital videosignals broadcast within one or both of: a VHF broadcast band and/or aUHF broadcast band.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst RFIC is a WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC.
 3. The system according to claim 1,wherein said second RFIC is a GSM RFIC.
 4. The system according to claim1, wherein said third RFIC is a DVB RFIC.
 5. The system according toclaim 1, comprising a diplexer and a first switch, wherein said firstRFIC is coupled to said first antenna via said first switch and saiddiplexer.
 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said second RFICis coupled to said first antenna via said first switch and saiddiplexer.
 7. The system according to claim 6, comprising a secondswitch, wherein said third RFIC is coupled to said first antenna viasaid second switch and said diplexer.
 8. The system according to claim7, wherein said second RFIC is coupled to said first antenna via saidsecond switch and said diplexer.
 9. The system according to claim 1,comprising a first amplifier, wherein an output of said first RFIC iscoupled to an input of at least said first amplifier.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 9, comprising a first polyphase filter, wherein anoutput of said first amplifier is coupled to an input of at least saidfirst polyphase filter.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein anoutput of said first polyphase filter is coupled to an input of saidfirst switch.
 12. The system according to claim 11, comprising a secondpolyphase filter, wherein an output of said first switch is coupled toan input of at least said second polyphase filter.
 13. The systemaccording to claim 12, comprising a second amplifier, wherein an outputof said second polyphase filter is coupled to an input of at least saidsecond amplifier.
 14. The system according to claim 13, comprising athird polyphase filter, wherein an output of said second amplifier iscoupled to an input of at least said third polyphase filter.
 15. Thesystem according to claim 14, wherein an output of said third polyphasefilter is coupled to an input of said first RFIC capable of handlingsignals within said WCDMA 2100 MHz band.
 16. The system according toclaim 1, comprising a third amplifier, wherein an output of said firstRFIC is coupled to an input of at least said third amplifier.
 17. Thesystem according to claim 16, comprising a fourth polyphase filter,wherein an output of said third amplifier is coupled to an input of atleast said fourth polyphase filter.
 18. The system according to claim17, wherein an output of said fourth polyphase filter is coupled to aninput of said first switch.
 19. The system according to claim 18,wherein an output of said first switch is coupled to an input of atleast a fifth polyphase filter.
 20. The system according to claim 19,comprising a fourth amplifier, wherein an output of said fifth polyphasefilter is coupled to an input of at least said fourth amplifier.
 21. Thesystem according to claim 20, comprising a sixth polyphase filter,wherein an output of said fourth amplifier is coupled to an input of atleast said sixth polyphase filter.
 22. The system according to claim 21,comprising a first divider, wherein an output of said sixth polyphasefilter is coupled to an input of said first divider.
 23. The systemaccording to claim 21, wherein an output of said first divider iscoupled to an input of said first RFIC capable of handling signalswithin said WCDMA 1900 MHz band and an input of said second RFIC capableof handling signals within said GSM 1900 MHz band.
 24. The systemaccording to claim 23, comprising a first receive path bandpass filter,wherein said output of said first switch is coupled to an input of atleast said first receive path bandpass filter.
 25. The system accordingto claim 24, wherein an output of said first receive path bandpassfilter is coupled to an input of said second RFIC.
 26. The systemaccording to claim 25, comprising a first transmit path bandpass filter,wherein an output of said second RFIC is coupled to an input of at leastsaid first transmit path bandpass filter.
 27. The system according toclaim 26, wherein an output of said first transmit path bandpass filteris coupled to said input of said first switch.
 28. The system accordingto claim 1, comprising a second transmit path bandpass filter, whereinan output of said second RFIC is coupled to an input of at least saidsecond transmit path bandpass filter.
 29. The system according to claim28, comprising a second switch, wherein an output of said secondtransmit path bandpass filter is coupled to an input of at least saidsecond switch.
 30. The system according to claim 29, comprising a secondreceive path bandpass filter, wherein an output of said second switch iscoupled to an input of at least a second receive path bandpass filter.31. The system according to claim 30, wherein an output of said secondreceive path bandpass filter is coupled to an input of said second RFIC.32. The system according to claim 1, comprising a fifth amplifier,wherein an output of said second RFIC is coupled to an input of at leastsaid fifth amplifier.
 33. The system according to claim 32, comprising aseventh polyphase filter, wherein an output of said fifth amplifier iscoupled to an input of at least said seventh polyphase filter.
 34. Thesystem according to claim 33, wherein an output of said seventhpolyphase filter is coupled to an input of said second switch.
 35. Thesystem according to claim 34, comprising an eighth polyphase filter,wherein an output of said second switch is coupled to an input of atleast said eighth polyphase filter.
 36. The system according to claim35, comprising a sixth amplifier, wherein an output of said eighthpolyphase filter is coupled to an input of at least said sixthamplifier.
 37. The system according to claim 36, comprising a ninthpolyphase filter, wherein an output of said sixth amplifier is coupledto an input of at least said ninth polyphase filter.
 38. The systemaccording to claim 37, comprising a second divider, wherein an output ofsaid ninth polyphase filter is coupled to an input of said seconddivider.
 39. The system according to claim 38, wherein an output of saidsecond divider is coupled to an input of said first RFIC capable ofhandling signals within said WCDMA 850 MHz band and an input of saidsecond RFIC capable of handling signals within said GSM 850 MHz band.40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said output of said secondswitch is coupled to an input of said third RFIC.
 41. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said first antenna is coupled to an inputof said third RFIC.
 42. The system according to claim 1, comprising afirst switch and a second antenna, wherein said second antenna iscoupled to said first RFIC via said first switch.
 43. The systemaccording to claim 42, wherein said second antenna is coupled to saidsecond RFIC via said first switch.
 44. The system according to claim 43,comprising a second switch and a third antenna, wherein said thirdantenna is coupled to said third RFIC via at least said second switch.45. The system according to claim 44, wherein said third antenna iscoupled to said second RFIC via said second switch.
 46. The systemaccording to claim 45, wherein said second antenna is coupled to aninput of said first switch.
 47. The system according to claim 46,wherein said third antenna is coupled to an input of said second switch.48. The system according to claim 47, wherein said third antenna iscoupled to said input of said third RFIC capable of handling signalswithin said VHF and/or UHF broadcast band.
 49. The system according toclaim 1, comprising a fourth antenna and a seventh polyphase filter,wherein said fourth antenna is coupled to said first RFIC via saidseventh polyphase filter in a transmit path capable of handling signalswithin said WCDMA 850 MHz band.
 50. The system according to claim 49,comprising an eighth polyphase filter, wherein said fourth antenna iscoupled to said second RFIC via said eighth polyphase filter in areceive path capable of handling signals within said GSM 850 MHz band.51. The system according to claim 50, wherein said fourth antenna iscoupled to an input of said eighth polyphase filter.
 52. The systemaccording to claim 51, wherein said output of said seventh polyphasefilter is coupled to said fourth antenna.
 53. The system according toclaim 1, comprising a fifth antenna and a second transmit path bandpassfilter, wherein said fifth antenna is coupled to said second RFIC viasaid second transmit path bandpass filter in a transmit path capable ofhandling signals within said GSM 850 MHz band and said GSM 900 MHz band.54. The system according to claim 1, comprising a sixth antenna and asecond receive path bandpass filter, wherein said sixth antenna iscoupled to said second RFIC via said second receive path bandpass filterin a receive path capable of handling signals within said GSM 900 MHzband.
 55. The system according to claim 1, comprising a seventh antennaand a first transmit path bandpass filter, wherein said seventh antennais coupled to said second RFIC via said first transmit path bandpassfilter in a transmit path capable of handling signals within said GSM1800 MHz band and said GSM 1900 MHz band.
 56. The system according toclaim 1, comprising an eighth antenna and a first receive path bandpassfilter, wherein said eighth receive path bandpass filter is coupled tosaid second RFIC via said first receive path bandpass filter in areceive path capable of handling signals within said GSM 1800 MHz band.57. The system according to claim 1, comprising a ninth antenna and afourth polyphase filter, wherein said ninth antenna is coupled to saidfirst RFIC via said fourth polyphase filter in a transmit path capableof handling signals within said WCDMA 1900 MHz band.
 58. The systemaccording to claim 57, comprising a fifth polyphase filter, wherein saidninth antenna is coupled to said second RFIC via said fifth polyphasefilter in a receive path capable of handling signals within said GSM1900 MHz band.
 59. The system according to claim 58, wherein said ninthantenna is coupled to an input of said fifth polyphase filter.
 60. Thesystem according to claim 59, wherein said output of said fourthpolyphase filter is coupled to said ninth antenna.
 61. The systemaccording to claim 1, comprising a tenth antenna and a first polyphasefilter, wherein said tenth antenna is coupled to said first RFIC viasaid first polyphase filter in a transmit path capable of handlingsignals within said WCDMA 850 MHz band.
 62. The system according toclaim 61, comprising a second polyphase filter, wherein said tenthantenna is coupled to said first RFIC via said second polyphase filterin a receive path capable of handling signals within said WCDMA 850 MHzband.
 63. The system according to claim 62, wherein said tenth antennais coupled to an input of said second polyphase filter.
 64. The systemaccording to claim 63, wherein said output of said first polyphasefilter is coupled to said tenth antenna.
 65. The system according toclaim 1, comprising an eleventh antenna, a second amplifier and a thirdpolyphase filter, wherein said eleventh antenna is coupled to said firstRFIC via said second amplifier and said third polyphase filter in areceive path capable of handling signals within said WCDMA 2100 MHzband.
 66. The system according to claim 65, wherein said secondamplifier is a low noise amplifier.
 67. The system according to claim 1,comprising a twelfth antenna and a first amplifier, wherein said twelfthantenna is coupled to said first RFIC via said first amplifier in atransmit path capable of handling signals within said WCDMA 2100 MHzband.
 68. The system according to claim 67, wherein said first amplifieris a power amplifier.
 69. The system according to claim 1, comprising athirteenth antenna, a sixth polyphase filter and a fourth amplifier,wherein said thirteenth antenna is coupled to said first RFIC and saidsecond RFIC via said sixth polyphase filter and said fourth amplifier ina receive path capable of handling signals within said WCDMA 1900 MHzband and GSM 1900 MHz band respectively.
 70. The system according toclaim 1, comprising a fourteenth antenna and a third amplifier, whereinsaid fourteenth antenna is coupled to said first RFIC via said thirdamplifier in a transmit path capable of handling signals within saidWCDMA 1900 MHz band.
 71. A method for an antenna architecture thathandles world band cellular and broadcast channels, the methodcomprising: receiving at a first radio frequency integrated circuit(RFIC) integrated within a mobile terminal, first signals via a firstantenna, said first signals comprising signals within a WCDMA 850 MHzband and one or both of: a WCDMA 2100 MHz band and/or a WCDMA 1900 MHzband; receiving at a second RFIC integrated within said mobile terminal,second signals via said first antenna, said second signals comprisingsignals within a GSM 850 MHz band, a GSM 900 MHz band and one or bothof: a GSM 1900 MHz band and/or a GSM 1800 MHz band; and receiving at athird RFIC integrated within said mobile terminal, third signals viasaid first antenna, said third signals comprising digital video signalsbroadcast within one or both of: a VHF broadcast band and/or a UHFbroadcast band.
 72. The method according to claim 71, wherein said firstRFIC is a WCDMA/HSDPA RFIC.
 73. The method according to claim 71,wherein said second RFIC is a GSM RFIC.
 74. The method according toclaim 71, wherein said third RFIC is a DVB RFIC.